Labour MEPs have broadly welcomed the European Commission's proposals for better regulation, but warned against deregulation of social and consumer rights and environmental measures.

The Commission, responding to pressure from the European Parliament, today published its "Better Regulation" package: a proposal to re-vamp the EU's legislative procedures to improve effectiveness and transparency and to subject all proposals to impact assessments while ensuring better regulation is not an excuse for deregulation.

Richard Corbett MEP, Labour's deputy leader in the European Parliament and Socialists and Democrats (S&D) Group spokesperson on better regulation, said:

"The Commission has clearly listened to the Parliament and our political group on a number of points - if we get this agreement right it will have benefits for transparency and for citizens throughout the EU.

"But we must be wary of those who will want to use this agreement to simply exempt businesses from their obligations to workers, consumers or the environment.

"There needs to be more clarity on the Commission's idea to have both a Regulatory Scrutiny Board and independent panel.

"These impact assessments should be comprehensive and not just look at the costs imposed on businesses, but also the cost to health services, consumers, workers' rights and the environment of not regulating."